Crop Review2020

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Crop Report by theStowmarket Grain TeamNov 2020

With the South of Englandstruggling particularly with higherthan average nitrogen andYorkshire facing germinationissues, 2020 has been a verydifficult harvest to secure thesupply of the right quality barleyfor our customers.

In order to supply enoughdistilling grade barley, we had toacquire Scottish Provenancebarley. While this preventedsupply problems, it inevitablyadded extra cost, particularly incomparison to if we sourced localbarley.

The full picture of barley qualityis still yet to be known due to thesmaller harvest intake this yearand tonnage still to come intostore at both sites.

Industries around the world faceunprecedented uncertainty at themoment, from the COVID-19pandemic, to Brexit, and whilethese and other events do notdirectly impact the crop, they dohave an influence on the farmers’decision making. Sadly, with theoutbreak of a mutated form ofCovid-19 in the Mink in Denmarkwe don’t seem to be any closer toslowing down the spread of thisvirus especially now with itjumping between species.

It is becoming apparent thatdue to these events, farmers arestarting to consider alternativecrop options, such as beans andpulses. In the UK, we must bemindful that if we have a hardBrexit and tariffs are put on barley

exports then barley isn’t such anattractive crop to grow if therearen’t so many options. Therefore,as an industry it is important thatwe provide some security tofarmers in terms of pricingstructures and opportunitiesgoing forward.

Malting barley intake at both sites continues to be challenging due to quality issues presentingthemselves daily - nitrogen, germination, awns, bugs and fusarium seem to be the main cause ofthe rejections to date. With higher than average rejection rates Farmers and Merchants continue tobe reluctant sellers until they are sure that they have covered current commitments. Some bulksthat were thought to be malting barley specification have had problems such as germination andhave ended up going to a feed home. It is not yet clear how much malting barley has been downgraded to feed barley, but what we do know is that in anormal year the pass rate for malting barley is approximately 75% compared to this year at 30 – 35%.

“...in a normalyear the pass ratefor malting barleyis approximately75% compared to this year at 30-35%”

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To enable a seamless switch to the new crop in your brewhouse,we have run some preliminary analysis to give you a clear viewof the 2020 crop behaviour in the maltings.

Stowmarket Malt Quality

Crop Predicted Extract1 Total Nitrogen Predicted Spirit Yield Amylograph2

Planet 308 Litre Degrees per KG 1.72% - 63.0 – 63.8°C

Craft 312 Litre Degrees per KG 1.61% - 62.4 – 63.9°C

Laureate 312 Litre Degrees per KG 1.61% 412 Litres of alcohol per tonne 63.8°C

AVERAGE CROP BASED QUALITY PREDICTION

Parameter Unit Craft Laureate Planet

Moisture % 3.1 3.0 3.1

IOB Extract 0.7mm Grind, Dry LDK 307 314 308

Total Nitrogen, Dry % 1.72 1.47 1.49

IOB total Soluble Nitrogen % 0.68 0.56 0.65

Soluble Nitrogen Ratio 39.6 37.9 43.6

IOB visual colour 450g EBC 7.1 4.1 5.3

IOB Visual Colour 515ml EBC 5.9 3.4 4.4

Friability % 93.8 94.8 90.7

Homogeneity % 99.9 98.6 98.2

Steeliness % 0.1 1.3 1.5

IOB Beta Glucan 450g mg/L 50 71 71

IOB FAN 1.040 mg/L 187 150 170

DP IOB °IOB 76 72 80

DU ASBC DU 56 51 58

Predicted Spirit Yield LAT / 412 /

Fermentability % / 86 /

STOWMARKET MICRO MALTINGS RESULTS

Based on the intake quality analysis we have determined an estimate of the new crops’ yields and optimal processing

temperatures. Samples of the 2020 crop were also micro malted to further assess its behaviour through a maltings and

to determine the impact of the high nitrogen levels on the malts’ yield.

1 using the Bishops equation to predict a barleys potential when malted, accurate to +/- 3LDK2 the temperature at which the starches within a barley malt have gelatinised and become fully accessible to enzymes.

TheWorld’s

GreenestMaltster

ConclusionBased on this crop review, we at Muntons are confident that while the year andharvest have been challenging, the 2020 crop malt will achieve our internalspecification for high quality brewing malt.

The main challenges we face as an industry are the increased nitrogen levelsthat the 2020 crop is showing, this will lead to the malts having a correspondinghigh nitrogen level.

Due to the crops’ good retention rates, large grainsize and good millingperformance, we do not expect it to have a lower extract specification than theprevious crop. While the specification will stay ≥310 LDK, we do not expect thecrop to perform much above this level. However, where the 2019 crop averageddry extracts of 315LDK for Planet and 310LDK for Craft, we expect the 2020 cropto average at the lower end of the specification.

Using the supplied amylographs to optimise mashing temperatures to the crop,we expect the 2020 crop malt to perform well in the brewing process.

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BREWING INFORMATION

Based on theretention rates ofthe 2020 crop, the

averagegrain size is

slightlyhigherthan in the

previous year.

Milling test and sieving analysis

show that there isno significantchange to the

millingperformance

of the 2020 crop.

Adjusting the top roller

gap on 4 & 6 rollermills may

improve thehusk integrityand slightly

improve runoff

speeds.

Milling Profiles...

Mashing performance...

“At Muntons weare confidentthat the 2020crop malt willachieve ourspecificationfor high qualitybrewingmalt...”

Like for likeagainst 2019,

the 2020 Craft and

Planetmalts

performedwell.

There was nosignificant

difference inthe mashingperformance.

There was nosignificant

changebetween the

2019 and 2020crops’

behaviourduring runoff;

both had good flowratesand separationtimings showed

no significantdifferences.

Both Planet & Craft

had

goodextractoutputs

yielding

80-85%brewhouse yieldon our trial plant.

Extract outputPlanet: 85% Craft: 80%

At a yield of80%, the 2020

Craftperformed

slightly underaverage,

whereas the2020 Planetperformedwell with a

yield of

85%

The maximum

fermentabilityof the wort

was:

87%for Planet

and

90%for Craft

When run through thebrewery, the

malt mashed andgelatinised nicely

and formed a goodfilter bed.

Conversion wasgood and the

runoff was smooth and after a standard

recirculation the wort ran clear for the duration of theseparation process.

Your MuntonsCONTACTS

Muntons plc

Cedars Maltings

Stowmarket

IP14 2 AG UK MUNTONS.COM

01449 618300

David Hannah Brewing & Distilling Malt Sales Manager

Scotland & Northern England

David.Hannah@muntons.com

@MuntonsDavid 07525 809093

Adam DarnesBrewing & Distilling Malt Sales Manager

Midlands, Yorkshire & Lancashire

Adam.Darnes@muntons.com

@MuntonsAdam 07795 920922

Joseph FifieldBrewing & Distilling Malt Sales Manager

London, Southern England & Wales

Joseph.Fifield@Muntons.com

@MuntonsJoe 07583 048935

Should you have any technical questions;

Fabian ClarkSenior Product Development Technologist

Fabian.Clark@muntons.com

@MuntonsBrewTec 07583 015208